With the Daytime Emmy awards approaching, we're taking a look back at some of the biggest nominees before they were, well, a big deal! From first-time noms to those we've watched for years, we'll take a look at what they were doing way back when.

Kate Mulgrew

Before she was the hardcore cafeteria head Red on Orange is the New Black, Mulgrew served as Captain Kathryn Janeway on “Star Trek: Voyager”…and before that, was Mrs. Columbo, a crime-solving housewife.

Lena Headey

She’s one of the fiercest queens we’ve ever seen on screen. But before her days in King’s Landing, Headey played a girl with some real trouble in the 1992 film Waterland.

Jon Hamm

The hunky star of Mad Men was a welcomed sight on Gilmore Girls. Surprise, surprise, he's at a cocktail bar.

Matthew McConaughey

McConaughey has wowed critics with his thrilling and intense role as Detective Rust in True Detective. Which is why it is all the more hilarious to look back on a less serious role that sparked his signature phrase.

Colin Hanks

Tom Hank's son is all grown up now and starring in the Emmy-nominated series Fargo. You may remember him from the teen soap Roswell about human-alien hybrids dealing with the ups and downs of high school. We also first met Katherine Heigl through this show.

Matt Bomer

We could recognize those sweet baby blues anywhere. Let's see if you do from his time on this soap opera.

Kevin Spacey

We know him now as the dark and charming politician Francis Underwood on House of Cards, and it suits Spacey well as we can see his range of emotions from the late '80s show Wiseguy.

Kerry Washington

Poised yet hardcore, Washington's role on Scandal shows she is not a woman you'd want to mess with or have something to hide from. Looking back on this scene from Save the Last Dance, we see why her talent is worth awards and so much more.